What is Arby’s Roast Beef Really Made Of? Separating Fact from Fiction

As a fast food connoisseur, I’m always down for an Arby’s roast beef sandwich. That thinly sliced meat piled high is pretty hard to resist! But with all the rumors swirling about what their roast beef is actually made of, I wanted to get to the bottom of this meaty mystery once and for all.

Is it real beef? A weird meat paste? What gives Arby’s roast beef its unique taste and texture? After digging into food science journals, employee accounts, and even watching the meat get sliced, I discovered the truth about this iconic sandwich filler.

Here’s the real deal on what Arby’s roast beef is made of, Grab a Horsey sauce packet and let’s satisfy our curiosity!

The Infamous “Meat Paste” Myth

The most persistent myth about Arby’s roast beef is that it’s a liquified meat product reformulated into loaves. According to urban legend, their “beef” arrives as a gel or paste, gets roasted into shape, then sliced up pre-sandwich. No real meat required!

This myth has circulated for years, likely due to the roast beef’s unnatural color and squishy texture when raw. However, it’s 100% fiction according to Arby’s employees, food scientists, and my own research. While gross, the meat paste story holds no truth.

It’s Real Beef…With Some Caveats

Numerous current and former Arby’s employees have confirmed that their roast beef is, in fact, made of actual beef. It just arrives to stores in an odd vacuum-sealed bag filled with broth that gives it an off-putting grayish, mushy appearance.

Once cooked, it looks and tastes like real roast beef. But there are some other ingredients at play, too…

The Complete Ingredient Breakdown

According to Arby’s own website, here’s what goes into their classic roast beef:

• Beef brisket, roast beef, and round: The core meats.

• Water and salt: Added to enhance juiciness and flavor.

• Corn syrup solids: Thickens the broth and enhances moisture.

• Natural smoke flavor: For smoky, roasted flavor without actual smoke.

• Dextrose: A natural sugar that adds sweetness.

• Spices and seasonings: For signature Arby’s taste.

So while it starts with real beef, other ingredients are added during processing to amp up the flavor and tenderness. The corn syrup solids and natural smoke flavor help achieve Arby’s ideal roast beef profile.

Why Does it Look So Weird Pre-Cooking?

As mentioned, the raw roast beef looks pretty unappetizing before it’s cooked up. Here’s why it seems so wacky:

• It’s vacuum-packed in an airtight bag filled with broth. This leaves the meat soggy and compressed.

• The broth contains corn syrup solids that give it a thick, gooey texture.

• Lack of oxygen causes the greyish-brown color.

• Cooking turns it back to the classic roast beef shade and firms it up.

So the odd appearance is temporary – just the result of how it’s packaged and transported. Once heated, it looks much more appetizing!

The Cooking Process From Raw to Ready-to-Eat

Here’s the play-by-play of how Arby’s roast beef goes from drab to delicious:

1. The vacuum-sealed bags of raw beef and broth arrive at the store.

2. The bags get heated for 4+ hours until the internal temperature reaches 130°F.

3. The cooked roast beef is kept hot in a holding unit.

4. Slices are cut to order when a customer purchases a sandwich.

5. The freshly sliced roast beef is piled onto a bun with toppings.

6. The completed sandwich is served hot and fresh!

As you can see, it gets fully cooked through before slicing, with no weird pastes involved.

Why The Slices Can Be Inconsistent

Ever notice how Arby’s roast beef quality fluctuates between sandwiches? Sometimes it’s tender and juicy, while other times it’s tough and dry.

There are a few factors that cause this inconsistency:

• Improper holding temperature – If it’s not kept hot enough, the meat dries out.

• Uneven cooking – Thicker parts may be undercooked while thinner areas overcook.

• Inconsistent slice thickness – Thinner slices dry out faster than thicker cuts.

• Sitting too long pre-sandwich – Meat can overcook and dry out in the holding unit.

• Staff training – New and rushed employees may slice less precisely.

So while the core meat is the same, several things can impact the end product. But a perfect slice of Arby’s roast beef still can’t be beat!

Why Go Through This Complex Process?

You may be wondering why Arby’s doesn’t just season and roast whole cuts of beef right in the store. Here are the main benefits of their unique process:

• Convenience – Minimal prep work required at individual locations.

• Speed – The centralized roasting is faster than cooking from scratch.

• Consistency – Computerized process ensures uniform flavor and texture.

• Food safety – Central facilities must meet strict government standards.

By controlling much of the process from their facilities, Arby’s can better guarantee each roast beef sandwich meets their exact specifications.

The Takeaway: It’s Real Beef After All!

After getting the inside scoop, I can definitively say Arby’s roast beef is 100% real beef – no meat pastes or substitutes. It just undergoes a complex journey to become the sandwich filler we all know and love.

Sure, the raw product looks pretty questionable, but once cooked, sliced and served, it’s delicious, high-quality roast beef through and through. The preparation process lets Arby’s achieve uniquely tender and tasty beef worthy of their sandwiches.

So next time you catch a whiff of Horsey sauce, fear not! Arby’s roast beef is odd yet wholesome, and those sandwiches are calling your name. Just don’t forget the Curly fries.